Vanya Quiñones became the fourth president of California State University, Monterey Bay on Aug. 15, 2022. A neurobiologist, biopsychologist, and noted researcher, she came to CSUMB after serving as provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs at Pace University since 2018.

“I am honored by this opportunity and eager to collaborate with the talented faculty, staff, administrators, students, and all members of the CSUMB community as we collectively work to provide even greater access to a high-quality education and improve the achievement of our talented and diverse students,” Quiñones said.

Quiñones earned a bachelor’s degree in biology and a master’s in cell biology from the University of Puerto Rico, and a doctorate in neurobiology and physiology from Rutgers University. Over the course of her 20-plus-year career at the City University of New York (CUNY) – Hunter College, Quiñones served as a professor, chair of the Department of Psychology, and associate provost. In 2018, she was appointed to her roles at Pace University, where she also held the rank of full professor in the Department of Psychology.